Bridging Culture and Generation - Brazil

An education initiative based on interpersonal communication between medical students & the elderly. A period of social visits preceded any medical visits, giving students the necessary knowledge & awareness with regards to ageing issues; enabling them to treat future elderly patients with respect & compassion.

Ageing, Population, Education

This project served to bridge the gap between generations. Due to the affluence of most medical student's families, where they knew only high standards of hygiene,comfort & nutrition, the students could not relate to the poor domestic conditions in which the older patients lived. The professors knew that their students would never have a proper "bedside manner" if they felt contempt for the less fortunate. Elderly students from the University of the Third Age were invited as 'chaperons' to accompany the medical students on their first visit; strictly social, no medical talk was allowed. "The bridging process was a success beyond the wildest hopes of the professors". Strong bonds were formed; valuable friendships were made and much was learned by the students about the traditional culture & practices of a Brazil long ago. Ageing patients were given a new status in their own community. The programme's success led to discussion about adapting it to other education faculties which would have contact with the ageing: Social Workers, Nurses, Paramedics & Commercial students.